Worse...when the minimum wage goes up, it prices out low skilled (and young, inexperienced labor), causing a rise in unemployment among their ranks. Their only advantage competing against more experienced workers is their willingness to accept lower wages. The minimum wage takes that weapon away from them, and more experienced (especially union) workers love the minimum wage, as it destroys their lower skilled competitors.
You’re right. Remember when movie theaters had ushers? Remember when gas stations had attendants who served you?
In many cases illegals take the unskilled labor jobs under the table...so the lower skilled legal worker that must be paid minimum wage is also competing with illegals as well as experienced workers.
Before minimum wage and a glut of illegal labor in this country it was possible (especially in construction) to go to work as an absolute unskilled, unexperienced worker and work up to supervisor or even own their own company. That bottom rung on the ladder job is very hard for a legal citizen to get now so working up from the bottom to a great job or building your own business has become all but impossible.